O’Neill delivers at the death to save Avondhu

An injury-time point by Colm O’Neill kept last year’s semi-finalists Avondhu in this year’s Cork SFC.

After an opening round defeat to Cork IT, the pressure was on the North Cork divisional outfit whereas Carbery, who were making their 2012 competitive debut, had the safety net of another opportunity if they lost this tie.

With the match level entering the dying moments, Cork senior O’Neill came out to strike a long-range free and while his effort was tailing wide, the ball deflected off a Carbery defender to ensure a ’45 was awarded. O’Neill availed of the second opportunity as he held his nerve to split the posts for his fifth point of the game.

Carbery were left to rue some poor shooting as they chalked up 11 wides and Declan Barron also saw his late first-half penalty, awarded after a foul on Colm O’Driscoll, excellently saved by Avondhu netminder Cian Conway. Carbery lead 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval but should have been much further ahead. With Brian O’Driscoll, Mark Sugrue, Barron and Kevin O’Driscoll all on target, they deserved their 0-5 to 0-2 advantage by the 20th minute. Yet Avondhu played a controlled style of play and with the Ballyclough duo of O’Neill and Teddy O’Shea always posing a threat, they were only two points adrift at half-time.

Carbery made the early running in the second-half with Denis O’Sullivan and Alan O’Connor ensuring they stretched their lead to 0-8 to 0-5 entering the final quarter. Yet they squandered scoring chances during that period after the break and Avondhu gradually grew into contention. They reeled off six points on the trot in a 10-minute spell with O’Neill contributing three of those while Cian O’Riordan and Paudie Kissane fired splendid points as well.

Carbery roused themselves with a strong late effort as they sought to save the game. Barron kick-started the revival with a free, corner-back Kevin Harrington capped an outstanding run forward by firing a great point and Alan O’Connor tied the sides in the 59th minute with a good score. But as extra-time looked inevitable, O’Neill stepped forward to settle the issue.

Scorers for Avondhu: C O’Neill 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), C O’Riordan 0-3, T O’Shea 0-2, D O’Mahony, P Kissane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Carbery: D Barron 0-3 (0-2f), B O’Driscoll (0-1 ’45), A O’Connor 0-2 each, M Sugrue, K O’Driscoll, D O’Sullivan, K Harrington 0-1

AVONDHU: C Conway (Clyda Rovers); N Barry (Grange), R Carey (Clyda Rovers), B Norris (Killavullen); E Stanton (Mallow), C O’Connell (Killavullen), E O’Connor (Kildorrery); H Dockery (Mallow), P Kissane (Clyda Rovers); C O’Riordan (Mallow), D O’Mahony (Kilshannig), C O’Sullivan (Clyda Rovers); M Sheehan (Glanworth), C O’Neill (Ballyclough), T O’Shea (Ballyclough).

Subs: K Sheehan (Mallow) for Sheehan (54), R O’Hagan (Fermoy) for O’Mahony (58).

CARBERY: M Cronin (St Colum’s); E Kelliher (St Mary’s), O Sexton (Kilbrittain), K Harrington (Bantry Blues); J Wall (Kilbrittain), G Canty (Bantry Blues), N Canty (Bantry Blues); A O’Connor (St Colum’s), D O’Sullivan (Ballinascarthy); B O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), R Deane (Bantry Blues), K O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh); D Barron (Bantry Blues), C O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh), M Sugrue (Bandon).

Subs: M Delaney (Bantry Blues) for Wall (43), S O’Neill (Bantry Blues) for Sugrue (43).

Referee: Pat O’Leary (Kilmurry).